No rocking chairs yet

Our sport is certainly one of countless and never-ending numbers but it seems age isn't one of them.

In honor of Father's Day, Emerald Downs carded one of the oddest, coolest and most unique races in thoroughbred racing history. The sixth race on June 17- "The Not in Any Rocking Chair Starter Allowance"- was written for 3-yr.-old horses and up, whose trainers were born prior to, or on, June 6, 1928.

In other words, the race was open to horses whose trainers are at least 90 years of age and Emerald Downs still has a few older fellows shuffling around the grounds.

Five horses were originally entered in the competition by four established and rather experienced trainers: 94-yr.-old Arturo Arboleda, (who had two horses in the race,) 91-yr.-old H.R. "Pat" Mullins, 90-yr.-old Ira Rhodes (whose horse was scratched,) and 90-yr.-old Bob Meeking.

The race was won by Regazee Cat with jockey Kevin Orozco aboard and was conditioned by the eldest of the group of trainers, Arturo Arboleda. The winner returned $5.00 in the six-furlong event over a track listed as fast.

Regazee Cat marked the third win of the year from 15 starters for Arboleda, who had ten winners last year. He continues to drive himself to and from the track every day and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.

Experience really does pay off in this game and I give all these men tremendous credit for staying the course.

Not the best gate side manner

On June 14 at Delaware Park, the horses were in the gate and ready for the start of the fifth race. The #7 horse, Accolade, was acting up and the assistant starter snatched him up and got him situated. But his emotions got the better of the twenty-year veteran and he began smacking and punching the horse several times in the head, which was caught on camera.

The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission is investigating the incident and scheduled a special session on June 16 to review the abuse. The assistant starter has been suspended and Delaware Park officials sent a state veterinarian to check on the welfare of Accolade, who was reported to be no worse for wear from the melee.

We expect a decision very soon from the commission but there's really no place for this in our sport. This fellow deserves more than a sore hand and his job could surely be in jeopardy.

No crash and burn here

On June 16, at New Zealand's Awapuni Race Course, jockey Aaron Kuru, and his mount, Des De Jeu cleared the first jump in the opening steeplechase event but the pair crashed heavily to the ground after clearing the fence.

It appeared that the second choice in the wagering had lost all chance and just avoiding injury would have been miraculous for the duo. But Kuro slid alongside his horse and jumped back into the saddle as the horse got back to his feet.

Without hardly missing a beat, the amazing horse and jockey regained their composure and charged after the leaders. The 5-yr.-old gelding jumped the remaining fences perfectly and wore down the favorite, Garagain in deep stretch to win going away in a dramatic and stunning victory.

In 45 years of watching horse races, I have never witnessed something so incredible. Aaron Kuru performed all this magic by pure instinct in a split second.

When asked about the incredible journey after the race, the jockey stated: "I don't really know and can't explain it, as it just sort of happened." Des De Jeu is obviously a horse and a half and Aaron Kuru is now being called 'Houdini' for good reason. Anything can happen in horse racing and this proves it usually does.

Future wagering on Breeders' Cup Classic opens

Future wagering for the 2018 Breeders Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 opened at The Wynn Las Vegas last week(Photo11: Wynn Resorts)

On June 18, The Wynn Las Vegas opened future wagering for the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic to be run at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. The Wynn is accepting win wagers on 68 horses in total and Justify is the listed favorite at 5/2.

Other top choices getting some early action include West Coast at 7/1 and Collected listed at 12/1. Reigning 2-yr.-old champ, Good Magic is 12/1, Dubai World Cup champion Thunder Snow is also 12/1 and Gold Cup winner Accelerate is 14/1.

With 68 horses listed, you will surely see one you like and if your horse isn't one of the favorites you could surely get some value. But keep in mind only 14 will enter the gate and if your horse is one of the other 54 that doesn't make it to the big race, there are no refunds.

A nice days' pay

Churchill Downs .20 cent, Single Six Jackpot was hit June 14 for a whopping $549,774.80 from a ticket purchased at Northfield Park in Ohio.

Ron Paolucci, a longtime horse owner, and respected gambler shelled out $1,764 for the ticket and correctly picked the winners of races 3-8 at the Kentucky track. The Single 6 Jackpot, which debuted at Churchill Downs in 2015, is a .20 cent wager and the top jackpot is only paid out if there is a single winning ticket that correctly picks the six winning horses in the sequence.

Churchill Downs boasts a low 15% takeout on the bet, one of the lowest multi-race takeouts in the nation. Good job, Ronnie!

A sudden cooldown

At Agen Racecourse in France, the fourth race was basically uneventful for trotter Cho Land Derozes and driver Richard Denechere and they finished in fifth place after lacking room in the stretch.

While most of the field was pulling up after the race, driver Denechere dropped his left rein and then struggled to maintain a straight path with the horse. With little control of the trotter, Denechere was now a mere passenger as the horse took an unexpected detour into the lake in the track's infield.

To the driver's credit, he stayed with the horse and guided him out of the water to safety and the pair came out of the bizarre incident without a scratch. Cho Land Derozes was a bit cooler than the other competitors and didn't even require a post-race bath.

Amazing but suspended

Jockey Frankie Dettori had a tremendous opening day at Royal Ascot, booting home three winners from three mounts on the card on June 19.

Detorri was victorious aboard Calyx in the Coventry Stakes, Without Parole in the St. James Palace Stakes and Monarchs Glen in the Wolferton Stakes.

This man is just amazing and rides with extreme confidence. But after the day's races were over, the British Horseracing Authority announced that Dettori would be suspended for seven days and fined for over-use of the whip in his win aboard Without Parole in the St. James Palace Stakes.

The suspension will take place from July 3 through July 9. Also earning a two-day suspension for whip use was jockey Donnacha O'Brien who rode Gustav Klimt to a second-place finish in the St. James Palace Stakes.